A Numerical Study of Moisture and Ionic Transport in Unsaturated Concrete by Considering Multi-ions Coupling Effect

Journal article (2023)

Authors

Z. Meng Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Materials and Environment - CEG
Yufei Zhang University of Macau
Wei kang Chen Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Chuan qing Fu Zhejiang University of Technology
Qing Xiang Xiong Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Cheng lin Zhang Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Qing feng Liu Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Research Group
Materials and Environment (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2023 Z. Meng, Yufei Zhang, Wei kang Chen, Chuan qing Fu, Qing Xiang Xiong, Cheng lin Zhang, Qing feng Liu
DOI
help_outline
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-023-02011-6
Porous media Moisture transport Chloride transport Heterogeneous nature Ionic interaction
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

2023

Language

English

Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Materials- Mechanics- Management & Design

Research Group

Materials and Environment

Abstract

Understanding the transport mechanisms within unsaturated porous media is essential to the durability problems associated with cement-based materials. However, the involvement of multi-ions electrochemical coupling effect, especially under unsaturated condition makes the transport mechanisms even more complex. In this study, the moisture and multi-ionic transport in unsaturated concrete have been modeled in three-dimensional cases. The contribution from both water vapor and liquid has been considered in moisture transport. By adopting the constitutive electrochemical law, the electrostatic potential induced by inherent charge imbalance was calculated. With parameter calibration, the numerical results agreed well with the experimental data, proving the validity of the presented model. Results from a parametric analysis showed that neglecting multi-ions coupling effect will lead to an underestimated chloride concentration, and saturated degree has an obvious impact on the coupling strength among different ions. In addition, the existence of coarse aggregates will not only block mass transport but also make the discrepancies between two-dimensional model and three-dimensional model results more obvious. Other findings which have not been reported in existing studies are also highlighted.